Archive for the ‘birding’ Category

Birdathon 2011: Final Report for the Pepperbox Wilderness

Aug 13th, 2011 / 0 Comments

Morning at Sunshine Pond

On May, 21 2011, I participated in the Audubon Society, Onondaga Chapter’s Birdathon, a competition to observe as many bird species as possible within a single 24-hour period. For the second year in a row, I bushwhacked through the Pepperbox Wilderness even though last year was less than a complete success.

Unlike last year, the weather was a major improvement until afternoon thundershowers past through the area. Unfortunately, just like last year I had to abandon my planned route due to time and inclement weather. Luckily, this year did not result in the significant failure of any of my equipment during the race to beat the setting sun.
Read More

birding

Birdathon 2011: Bushwhacking out from Cropsey Pond

Aug 8th, 2011 / 0 Comments

Campsite at Cropsey Pond

On May 21, 2011, I birded some of the ponds and streams in the northeastern Pepperbox Wilderness for the Audubon Society’s Birdathon. The Birdathon is a challenge to locate as many bird species as possible in a single 24-hour period. This would be my second attempt to perform the Birdathon in the Pepperbox Wilderness. On the morning after the Birdathon, I bushwhacked from Cropsey Pond to Raven Lake Road so as to report my results before noon.

Date: May 22, 2011
Length: 2.2 miles
Difficulty: Moderate
Read More

birding, Reports, Trips

Birdathon 2011: Bushwhacking Straight to Cropsey Pond After Failing to Get Around Moshier Ponds

Jul 31st, 2011 / 0 Comments

Southernmost Moshier Pond

On May 21, 2011 I birded some of the ponds and streams in the northeastern Pepperbox Wilderness in the Adirondack State Park for the Audubon Society’s Birdathon. The Birdathon is a challenge to locate as many bird species as possible in a single 24-hour period. This would be my second attempt to perform the Birdathon in the Pepperbox Wilderness. The afternoon of the Birdathon found me trying to bushwhack around Moshier Ponds before a thunderstorm forced me to make a fateful decision.
Read More

birding, Reports, Trips

Birdathon 2011: Bushwhacking Birding Along Deer Pond Outlet Stream

Jul 25th, 2011 / 0 Comments

Sunshine Pond

On May 21, 2011 I birded some of the ponds and streams in the northeastern Pepperbox Wilderness of the Adirondack State Park for the Audubon Society’s Birdathon. The Birdathon is a challenge to locate as many bird species as possible in a single 24-hour period. This was my second attempt to perform the Birdathon in the Pepperbox Wilderness. The morning of the Birdathon took me from my campsite at the southwestern shore of Sunshine Pond to Deer Pond where I subsequently followed the outlet stream to the southern Moshier Pond.
Read More

birding, Reports, Trips

Central Pepperbox Wilderness Trip Bird Report

Feb 5th, 2011 / 0 Comments

Threemile Beaver Meadow pond

The five-day bushwhack through the heart of the Pepperbox Wilderness including Threemile Beaver Meadow, a feeder stream, numerous beaver ponds, Moshier Creek and Moshier Reservoir yielded a total of 36 confirmable bird species. The low number of species was probably due to the late season, the hot and humid weather conditions and my rusty fall warbler identification skills.

In addition, there were at least three other species (i.e. a sandpiper, a Empidonax flycatcher and a fall warbler) I could not identify to species due to the either low power of my binoculars (the sandpiper), lack of song (Empidonax flycatchers are identified by song in the field) and my rusty ability to identify warblers in their fall plumage.
Read More

birding, Reports, Trips

Stillwater Reservoir to Cranberry Lake Bird Report

Nov 20th, 2010 / 3 Comments

Common loon on Gun Harbor

The eight-day epic trek through the heart of the Five Ponds Wilderness from Wanakena to Stillwater Reservoir and back via Cranberry Lake yielded a total of 62 confirmable bird species. The high number of avian species was most likely due to the great diversity of habitat encountered including a couple large lakes, many small glacial lakes, numerous beaver ponds, vlys, wetlands and a variety of forest types from hardwood to coniferous.

The total number of species was slightly higher than the results of any of the Birdathons that I have participated in the past. Previous trips in the area during Birdathons in mid-May have only yielded 59, 57 and 44 species in 1999, 2000 and 2001. These Birdathon results were for single days only and covered a more restricted area centered on the trail system.

Read More

birding

Pepperbox Bushwhack Birdathon 2010 Final Report

Jun 16th, 2010 / 0 Comments

For those of you interested in the final results of my Birdathon bushwhack within the Pepperbox Wilderness on May 15, 2010 the final results are listed below. The name of the each bird species is followed by the location where the species was first detected.

Read More

birding